Michael Olowokandi
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| Player information | ||
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| Nickname | The Kandi Man | |
| birthday | 3rd April 1975 | |
| place of birth | Lagos , Nigeria | |
| size | 215 cm | |
| position | center | |
| college | Pacific | |
| NBA draft | 1998 , 1st pick, Los Angeles Clippers | |
| Clubs as active | ||
1999 Children Bologna 1999–2003 Los Angeles Clippers 2003–2006 Minnesota Timberwolves 2006–2007 Boston Celtics 
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Michael Olowokandi (born April 3, 1975 in Lagos ) is a retired British- Nigerian basketball player. He played from 1999 to 2007 as a center in the NBA .
Born in Nigeria, Michael Olowokandi grew up in London . He only started playing basketball at the age of 17. First he went to Brunel University before moving to the University of the Pacific in Stockton to play for the local basketball team. In his first year he led his team to the NCAA tournament. After performing well in his sophomore year, he was the first player to be drawn by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 1998 Draft . Because of the NBA lockout 1998/99 he played for the Italian team Kinder Bologna for a short time . For his achievements in his first year as a professional, he was appointed to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team . From his sophomore year until 2003 he played for the Clippers, where he was never quite able to meet the expectations placed on him. Like many players, Olowokandi showed his best performances in the season before his contract expired. He joined the Minnesota Timberwolves as an unrestricted free agent , where his final breakthrough was expected. However, he disappointed again and averaged only about six points per game in three years.
On January 26, 2006, he moved to the Boston Celtics as part of a multi-player trade . There he only made 40 games in two years and was never on the starting line-up. From January 1, 2007, Olowokandi was again a free agent, but found no new club and finally ended his career.
The Los Angeles Clippers' decision for Olowokandi is now considered one of the worst NBA draft mistakes and was voted the third worst in NBA history by Sports Illustrated in 2005 . The Clippers could have chosen Vince Carter , Antawn Jamison , Dirk Nowitzki , Paul Pierce , Mike Bibby or Rashard Lewis , all of whom have had far more successful careers.
In his 500 regular season games, Olowokandi averaged 8.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks.
Web links
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Olowokandi, Michael |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | The Kandi Man (nickname) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | British-Nigerian basketball player |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 3rd April 1975 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Lagos |